The end of the Western military presence in Central Asia will mean the West’s influence on the security sphere in the region will be marginalised.

Azerbaijan’s actions have displayed its tendency to deepen its self-isolation in foreign affairs and consolidate its authoritarian system.

Russia’s annexation of Crimea and destabilization of Ukraine have created a new context for Kazakhstan’s foreign and domestic policy.

The new Georgian leadership is facing strategic domestic and geopolitical challenges, compounded by the current conflict in Ukraine.

Since the collapse of the USSR, Russian influence in Central Asia has undergone a far-reaching erosion. The process is unlikely to be reversed.